10 Chinese nationals working at Dhamra port asked to leave

Bhubaneswar, June 13 (IANS) The Odisha government has ordered 10 Chinese nationals working in the Adani Group-managed Dhamra Port Company Limited in Bhadrak district of the state to leave the country, a senior official said on Monday.

The state government took the step after the Ministry of Home Affairs directive for the issuance of ‘leave India’ notices to the Chinese nationals. Sources said two of them have already left the country.

The Chinese were asked to leave as the area they are working in is close to the missile launch facility at the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island, approximately 10 km off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal. Dhamra is the nearest port.

“The MHA informed the state government last week about the presence of the 10 Chinese nationals in Bhadrak district. They were working in DPCL. We have asked the intelligence chief and Bhadrak Superintendent of Police to execute the leave India notices on these foreign nationals,” Home Secretary Asit Tripathy told reporters here.

The 10 Chinese engaged by Thailand-based Sunzo Foundation Engineering were working on a business visa instead of an employment visa for some months, said an official.

Bhadrak SP Nihar Ranjan Das said the Chinese nationals have been served the notices.